Tooth resorption, once called FORL (Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions), is one of the most common and most painful dental diseases in cats - it is estimated to affect up to half of all cats over five years old. It is insidious, because it stays hidden for a long time and cats are masters at concealing pain.
What resorption is
In this disease the body's own cells (odontoclasts) gradually dissolve the hard tissues of the tooth - from dentine to enamel. Defects form that expose the sensitive interior of the tooth. The tooth literally "disappears", often replaced by bone-like tissue. The process is very painful, especially once it reaches the root.
Why it is so hard to spot
Many lesions develop below the gum line and are invisible during a simple look in the mouth. A cat rarely stops eating completely - more often it eats less, more slowly, or swallows food without chewing. Diagnosis therefore requires examination under anaesthesia and X-rays of all the teeth.
Signs worth watching for
- cautious eating, dropping food, preferring soft food,
- drooling, sometimes tinged with blood,
- "chattering" or jaw tremor when the mouth is touched,
- weight loss and a poorer coat,
- a red, overgrown gum line creeping over the tooth.
Treatment - why it usually means extraction
Resorption cannot be reversed or "filled" like ordinary decay. The treatment of choice is removing the affected tooth, which immediately eliminates the source of pain. The extent of surgery is decided from X-rays - they show whether the root has already resorbed or needs full extraction.
How to help your cat
Because the disease is so common and painful, regular dental check-ups matter most - especially in older cats. Early detection means faster relief and a smaller procedure. Diagnosis and treatment of tooth resorption in cats at MultiVet in Lutynia near Wrocław is provided by Dominika Pilarz, DVM - book a dental visit.